Grass Fed Beef
These days, many home cooks are making the switch to as much healthy, organic, local and humanely-raised food that their wallet will allow. But when it comes to beef, what does grass-fed really mean? Almost all cows begin their lives grazing on grass, but most are fed soy, corn and a mixture of other grains as they grow. While none of these grains are part of a cow’s natural diet, they do help to produce the marbling and flavor that Americans are accustomed to. Even still, grain-fed cattle can take a serious toll on the environment and on our health.
Compared to grain-fed cattle, grass-fed beef is two to four times richer in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Grass-fed beef is also higher in "good" unsaturated fats and lower in "bad" saturated fats and it’s loaded with over 400% more vitamin A and E. Although beef gets a bad reputation for being fatty, grass-fed specimens can actually have the same amount of fat as boneless, skinless chicken breast. Research shows that lean beef can even lower your "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.
Like with grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef can vary greatly, depending on the quality. Always purchase the highest-quality beef you can afford, whether it be grass-fed or grain-fed, and you’ll definitely taste the difference. Currently, there is no standard for classifying beef as grass-fed, though the government is working to formally define it. Until then, do your research, read the labels, and talk to your butcher to ensure that you’re getting what you pay for.
Source: www.mercola.com, www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm, www.americangrassfed.org
Image by Alpha available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license
These days, many home cooks are making the switch to as much healthy, organic, local and humanely-raised food that their wallet will allow. But when it comes to beef, what does grass-fed really mean? Almost all cows begin their lives grazing on grass, but most are fed soy, corn and a mixture of other grains as they grow. While none of these grains are part of a cow’s natural diet, they do help to produce the marbling and flavor that Americans are accustomed to. Even still, grain-fed cattle can take a serious toll on the environment and on our health.
Compared to grain-fed cattle, grass-..
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